Acting the Part - Part 4, Chapter 29

Part 4, chapter 29

(Wirnday)
month of Tulinari – near equinox

Isle of Varkevand

“Show us where your shack was,” Iyva requested one morning. “Seeing that Tle-sun has a hoverbil here.”

Kami nodded immediately. “I can drive,” she volunteered, feeling a bit of cabin fever.

“Is not much to see,” Ardin warned. “But we take you.”

“Since Jenna and I have already visited the location, we will stay here,” Tle-sun said from his spot playing with Arvad.

Kami drove the four of them down the coast to the spot where she felt the memories flood back.

Ardin squeezed her hand. “I’ve never quite thanked you and Moxara for intruding,” he told her in Varkevandish.

“Thank you for not kicking us back to Ilim City!” Kami replied. Then, she added in Common Tongue, “I can’t believe she’s married now!”

“Who?” Zilan asked.

“My maqla, Moxara. She went to Kri’enden for a couple of weeks,” Kami said.

“I heard that she’s now adviser to CC Uushin,” Zilan replied. “And married to one of the abári’s advisers – already expecting as well.”

“Is nu’ting news to you?!” Ardin asked Zilan incredulously.

“Only if I don’t know – and often I’m actively seeking that,” Zilan replied. “I have ears all over the world – even in the Distant Lands.”

Kami smiled as she drove, carefully guarding the fact that she knew something important that Zilan didn’t seem to know. But it wasn’t her secret to share.

Kami parked very close to where Ardin’s front door used to be. Her gait was closer to a waddle now. She gratefully used Ardin’s arm for support.

“Is nu’ting left now,” Ardin said. “I was able to salvage a few tings in de weeks after it was destroyed, but I mostly had to start all over. Tankfully, Saraca get us deed to old Neví hideout.”

“I’m so glad it worked out that way,” Iyva said.

“Me too,” Kami said.

♥

Iyva wandered closer to the water’s edge by herself for a bit. Kami was slowed by her pregnant body. Ardin stayed with her and Zilan was chatting with Ardin.

Iyva picked up little shells and things she saw that interested her, quickly filling the little pouch Ardin had given her to use. She was just about to go back to the others when she saw a glint in the sand. She found a sodden stick to use as a digging tool.

Iyva dug for a few minutes until she managed to scrape the stick around enough of it to release a golden ring. She picked it up and examined it. A piece of old rotten string was wrapped around it. The string broke away easily. She took it to the water and rinsed it until she could see the filigree etching on it, in a grapevine pattern. It was beautiful!

She tried it on several fingers, until it rested nicely on her index finger. She hoped it wouldn’t get in the way of shaze training.

“What have you found?” Zilan asked as he joined her.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, showing him the ring.

“It is. And it looks even more beautiful on you!” he replied pulling her into his arms and kissing her. “I haven’t done that nearly enough these past few weeks!”

She threw her arms around him and kissed him hungrily. “You’re right, we need more time alone again!”

“It will come, my love,” he promised. Then he looked at her more seriously. “I want to tell you something important though – one of my little secrets that I haven’t told you yet.”

“I trust you,” Iyva said. “Unconditionally.”

Zilan smiled at her. “Iyva, I have never told you my true age, because I was afraid you’d think I was too old for you. I was almost 16 when I lost my maqla in that Diner Disaster. You aren’t much older than that now,” he said quietly.

Iyva could feel his guarded fear. Nothing ever scared him – not since she’d met him, anyway. “I am 17 now. But age is just a number,” Iyva said, trying to reassure him.

“You aren’t even old enough to marry in most countries – not without special permission! Iyva, I will grow old and you will still be fresh and young!” he replied soberly. “I don’t wish to be a burden on you.”

“Then I will care for you,” she replied determinedly. “You are the one I love, Zilan. You and I both know that love doesn’t always make sense.”

“You’re an amazing woman!” he said hugging her tight again. “Your youth will keep me young.”

Iyva kissed him hungrily again, keeping her own tiny secret under tight guard in her mind and heart.

♥

Irola – Balan Center

“My ring has been found!” Belmara Wolfkin shouted.

Fashi tried to not let her know how much she’d startled him. He took his attention away from the surveillance images he was studying to look at his wife.

“Where, my love?” Fashi asked, trying to remember a missing ring.

“Varkevand, of course! I wouldn’t have expected it to turn up anywhere else.”

“Any information for us?” Fashi asked, looking back at his screens.

“It’s another young girl who has it… but I recognize her leya imprint… I remember it from the sparring room when we first took over this place.”

“What? Curator’s wayward student?” Fashi asked, sitting up and giving her his undivided attention.

“Yes. She’s full of love too…. And with child – Zilan’s child!” Belmara reported. “We have a beacon to tell us exactly where he is, despite his best efforts! At last. Both of them will pay for his treachery against us!”

♥

Isle of Varkevand

“Let’s watch a film,” Kami suggested after supper.

“Good idea,” Jenna said, trying to calm an overly-tired Arvad. Finally, she was able to coax him to accept the nipple. He suckled lightly, lulling him to sleep.

“What will we watch?” Iyva asked, finally able to pull her attention away from the baby, wondering what it would feel like. She tidied away the feelings again – including her worry about what Zilan would say when he found out.

“How about ‘Between Friends,’” Tle-sun suggested.

“What, Derick Aiden’s new film?” Iyva asked. “That would be good. I’ve been dying to see it!”

“Can do dat,” Ardin said getting things set up.

“I’ve heard it’s very good, Iyva. You’ll have to tell us whether it’s a good portrayal of the Neví, Zilan,” Tle-sun said.

“I can assure you it is,” Zilan replied. “I am his source.”

“If I had any doubts about your loyalty, they are all washed away now!” Tle-sun said shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me, Zilan!”

Zilan smiled uncomfortably. “You have been a truer friend than I,” he said.

“No. You saved my life when it almost cost you yours to do so,” Tle-sun replied. “There is no truer test of friendship than that!”

“Just my code of honor,” Zilan replied.

“Anyway, you probably already know that Derick is in hiding right now – after all the threats the Neví have made on his life,” Tle-sun said.

“I am aware that he is hiding. Do you know where he is right now?” Zilan asked.

“One of our complexes is all I know. Yewan saw him briefly before leaving Irola,” Tle-sun replied.

“Never mind. I will find out,” Zilan said. “Zarkonn, er, Zaynen gave me a little gift before I became the enemy.” He showed Tle-sun the voice scrambler that he could affix to a PCS link. “At the time, it was better than the best device on the market.”

“Betel was able to crack one on Irola, from what I understand. It took quite a bit of effort though,” Tle-sun said. “Good device. Will it be safe enough still?”

“If I dump the PCS link before I leave the country, yes,” Zilan said. “Tracers tend to go to device, not to a protected code like what I have, so my code remains the same, device gets thrown into the ocean or whatever is convenient at the time.”

“I think you have a lot to teach the A’mara,” Tle-sun replied.

“Maybe,” Zilan replied.

“Let’s watch!” Iyva begged as the film began.

♥

[NEXT CHAPTER

If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.

Other Chapters of this set

Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Building on Promise - Chapter 1

Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10

Spice of Strength - Chapter 1

Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19, Chapter 28

Sands of Survival - Chapter 1

Acting the Part, part 4 - Chapter [29](

Maps and Guides

continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
continent of Almara (five maps)
countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
characters, pronunciation and glossary

PLEASE CATCH UP!	LINKS TO BUY! (in chronological order)
	Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them!
	Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series.
	Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy.
	Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously.
COMING SOON	TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!!
	Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví...

Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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